I saw my French tutor to discuss what is going on at the moment regarding my degree. The possibility that is the most likely - almost certain is that I will not be allwoed to carry on French into next year, and will lose French from my degree completely. The effects on my German are not known yet. Some people are against me passing the year abroad as a whole (meaning if I wanted to get my degree I would have to take another year out and pay back all my grant and whatever else which is not something I particularly want to do).
Another small possiblity is that I am allowed to do a French summer course as well as the German one I was originally goign to do. However, various people are very much against me doing this - the main reason being that if I stop semester 2 as I have, and do a summer course instead then it would 'apparently' make other people in the future do this too, which does not really hold water.
I left because I did not like the place at all, spent the vast majority of my days alone and was becoming depressed. That is very different from people who leave France just because they are lazy or don't want to stay there in exam period.
So at this moment, nothing is happening for sure too. The French essay deadline is in a couple of weeks. I plan to work hard on this essay to ensure a good mark. Maybe it would help my case...
Friday, 6 March 2009
Thursday, 5 March 2009
#32 - In Bham
I am in Birmingham right now. I was supposed to come yesteday to see my tutor but I could not make it to the train station so I couldn't get to Bham. But I am here today, should have some time to talk with my tutor about things.
But until then I have nothing to do as anyone I know here is not free until this afternoon or later! So I'm just at uni on the computers looking at all the students I don't know. It's odd to not randomly see people I know. They aren't here because they are abroad too!
On a seperate note, my hair seems to grow faster/longer when I am in France, so now it is too long to stick up like it usually is. Instead I have no choice but to shamelessly let it flop down on a fringe. This means I will need a haircut.
But until then I have nothing to do as anyone I know here is not free until this afternoon or later! So I'm just at uni on the computers looking at all the students I don't know. It's odd to not randomly see people I know. They aren't here because they are abroad too!
On a seperate note, my hair seems to grow faster/longer when I am in France, so now it is too long to stick up like it usually is. Instead I have no choice but to shamelessly let it flop down on a fringe. This means I will need a haircut.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
#31 - Back home
I am back from France for now and it feels great! But as always there were a few problems.
The first problem came when I got to the airport and found my flight was cancelled. Not delayed, cancelled. I was supposed to fly from Strasbourg Entzheim to London City Airport. Instead I had to go from Entzheim to Paris Charles de Gaulle, and then from there to London Heathrow.
The next (not really a problem but more of an) annoyance was on the second flight. I was sat next to a couple. The guy told a few bad jokes and wouldn't leave the girl alone, and then proceeded to read poems that he had written from his book about Jesus, and then started on some sermons. The girl would randomly interject by reading passages from the Bible she was carrying.
The last problem was kind of expected. I knew Air France would do something wrong. I was waiting to get my luggage from the conveyor thingamabob and I heard my name called over the speakers along with some mumbling which was repeated. So I headed towards the desk where I was informed that my suitcase was in France. Oops. It seems that Air France didn't want to transfer my suitcase to the next flight. I had even asked the office there if I needed to get my suitcase my self etc. But no, they said it was fine. It wasn't too much of a problem - I filled out a form and they sent my suitcase by mail, which arrived the next day. Brilliant.
So all in all it was a bit of an adventure! Oh! And because we flew over, I saw the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe in real life for the first time in my life!
The first problem came when I got to the airport and found my flight was cancelled. Not delayed, cancelled. I was supposed to fly from Strasbourg Entzheim to London City Airport. Instead I had to go from Entzheim to Paris Charles de Gaulle, and then from there to London Heathrow.
The next (not really a problem but more of an) annoyance was on the second flight. I was sat next to a couple. The guy told a few bad jokes and wouldn't leave the girl alone, and then proceeded to read poems that he had written from his book about Jesus, and then started on some sermons. The girl would randomly interject by reading passages from the Bible she was carrying.
The last problem was kind of expected. I knew Air France would do something wrong. I was waiting to get my luggage from the conveyor thingamabob and I heard my name called over the speakers along with some mumbling which was repeated. So I headed towards the desk where I was informed that my suitcase was in France. Oops. It seems that Air France didn't want to transfer my suitcase to the next flight. I had even asked the office there if I needed to get my suitcase my self etc. But no, they said it was fine. It wasn't too much of a problem - I filled out a form and they sent my suitcase by mail, which arrived the next day. Brilliant.
So all in all it was a bit of an adventure! Oh! And because we flew over, I saw the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe in real life for the first time in my life!
Friday, 27 February 2009
#30 - Packing and a package
I am going home for a week tomorrow for spring break! And considering I probably wont come back, I have to pack EVERYTHING. I did a lot of it yesterday i.e. all my clothes so today is left with books and electrical stuff. Hopefully I will be done by early this evening, and then I will reward myself with a nice set for 2 from Pizza Hut.
Hopefully, my suitcase packing is lighter this time too. I had to pay overweight prices for it when I flew out of London, even having to take things out of my suitcase and put them in a big bag to be put on seperate because the suitcase was so over the weight limit's limit that the staff could injure themselves while picking it up. So new plan : fit all the books I can into my laptop case (I had them before in the suitcase...which I am guessing caused so much weight).
Secondly, my dad has told me that the package with loads of presents and all the manga I bought (I love Bookoff!!!) and other such japan paraphenalia has arrived at our house today. Which is great news! It took so long because I had to send it by sea to still be affordable, as air travel and train were so expensive because the box is so big and heavy! So as the post office lady said, it took about 2 months :D My dad has put it in my room (i assume) and it's being left for me to open when I get home tomorrow.
Next will come the part where I forgot which presents I assigned to which friends...I really should have kept the uncompleted list I made. There are probably almost 200 bits of things in that box...
Hopefully, my suitcase packing is lighter this time too. I had to pay overweight prices for it when I flew out of London, even having to take things out of my suitcase and put them in a big bag to be put on seperate because the suitcase was so over the weight limit's limit that the staff could injure themselves while picking it up. So new plan : fit all the books I can into my laptop case (I had them before in the suitcase...which I am guessing caused so much weight).
Secondly, my dad has told me that the package with loads of presents and all the manga I bought (I love Bookoff!!!) and other such japan paraphenalia has arrived at our house today. Which is great news! It took so long because I had to send it by sea to still be affordable, as air travel and train were so expensive because the box is so big and heavy! So as the post office lady said, it took about 2 months :D My dad has put it in my room (i assume) and it's being left for me to open when I get home tomorrow.
Next will come the part where I forgot which presents I assigned to which friends...I really should have kept the uncompleted list I made. There are probably almost 200 bits of things in that box...
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
#29 - DAAD website - German courses
Today I thought I would take a look at the DAAD website. This is a website where you can view courses about studying in Germany. My German department back at home use this website, and because I am set to do a summer course in Germany, this is the website we are told to research courses.
So I have been looking through it today, at various German courses, and there are quite a few that I would like to do. The best one that I think at the moment is in Aachen, which is right next to the german-dutch-belgium border, and that would be in August. I have also saved a few others, such as ones in Berlin and Munich which also look interesting.
Of course, I am still waiting (like all other german summer course students) for more information from Birmingham about things such as the length of the course and other requirements. Hopefully if all goes well I would be able to apply for the course in Aachen.
The website doesn't only have summer courses. It also has information on various German universities and articles about living and studying abroad. So if anyone reading this is wanting to study in Germany (and not necessarily just the language!) then check out the website. Just click on the link or picture above!
So I have been looking through it today, at various German courses, and there are quite a few that I would like to do. The best one that I think at the moment is in Aachen, which is right next to the german-dutch-belgium border, and that would be in August. I have also saved a few others, such as ones in Berlin and Munich which also look interesting.
Of course, I am still waiting (like all other german summer course students) for more information from Birmingham about things such as the length of the course and other requirements. Hopefully if all goes well I would be able to apply for the course in Aachen.
The website doesn't only have summer courses. It also has information on various German universities and articles about living and studying abroad. So if anyone reading this is wanting to study in Germany (and not necessarily just the language!) then check out the website. Just click on the link or picture above!
Monday, 23 February 2009
#28 - and another one...
Yep, this is yet another entry about leaving Strasbourg.
I have been in contact with both the French department and the German department back home. Both of them seem to want me to think more about this decision over spring break which is next week (and which I will be home in England for). I can appreciate that they want me to think about this, but seriously I have. Not to sound arrogant or anything, but I am one of those people who think about EVERYTHING before I make a decision. And I mean everything. I have thought about everything to do with university requirement for Birmingham, fincancial stuff including the possiblility of having to pay back my grants, that I would probably have to pay the CROUS here for the rest of the semester, about how this would impact my other parts of my course, about all the work I have put into my degree the past few years...just about everything.
Sometimes I try to think "maybe if I do this then it might be better" but in the end, I am just plain unhappy about my situation. I understand that this is a "great experience" but frankly, it just isn't so great. I am unhappy here. Isn't that reason enough to leave?
There is the chance that I might be able to enroll in one of the French summer courses by Birmingham, but only if there is movement quickly. But then, it also depends when these courses are as I still have to apply for a summer course in Germany.
Staying in Strasbourg for the next few months would undoubtedly be the easiest option. Leaving causes big problems for not jsut French, but the rest of my degree. It might sound arrogant, weak, or just plain stupid that I want to leave.
The easiest decision is not always the right decision.
I have been in contact with both the French department and the German department back home. Both of them seem to want me to think more about this decision over spring break which is next week (and which I will be home in England for). I can appreciate that they want me to think about this, but seriously I have. Not to sound arrogant or anything, but I am one of those people who think about EVERYTHING before I make a decision. And I mean everything. I have thought about everything to do with university requirement for Birmingham, fincancial stuff including the possiblility of having to pay back my grants, that I would probably have to pay the CROUS here for the rest of the semester, about how this would impact my other parts of my course, about all the work I have put into my degree the past few years...just about everything.
Sometimes I try to think "maybe if I do this then it might be better" but in the end, I am just plain unhappy about my situation. I understand that this is a "great experience" but frankly, it just isn't so great. I am unhappy here. Isn't that reason enough to leave?
There is the chance that I might be able to enroll in one of the French summer courses by Birmingham, but only if there is movement quickly. But then, it also depends when these courses are as I still have to apply for a summer course in Germany.
Staying in Strasbourg for the next few months would undoubtedly be the easiest option. Leaving causes big problems for not jsut French, but the rest of my degree. It might sound arrogant, weak, or just plain stupid that I want to leave.
The easiest decision is not always the right decision.
Sunday, 22 February 2009
#27 - Decisions
I have spoken with someone in the French department at Birmingham quite a bit who has said he will try to find out what effects leaving France would have on my degree. For sure I won't be able to study French anymore because I havn't met the living abroad or academic requirements to enter final year. I have also emailed the German department because it's more than likely that I will be doing German as a major (to fill the French gap) and Japanese minor.
It's a bit unfortunate that I was stuck with Strasbourg. It wasn't my first choice, or my second. I can't help feeling that if I was somewhere else in France then I would be having a better time. Strasbourg university has not helped me in any way even from the start - no information sent to me over the course of a year, no information when I got here, no sort of introduction to France or the university, nothing for Erasmus students including no kind of Erasmus meeting for that semester, troubles with accommodation, and finally the strikes and troubles with not having lessons. Because of all this it has been stressful and not very nice. And because all this has happened it has meant I havn't met very many people, hardly any in fact. As far as French friends (which I hoped to make in class but we havn't had any...) I havn't met any.
As I said, another city in a different part of France would have probably been better. Since I have been in Strasbourg I have wanted to leave, but at the beginning I was trying to think of the ways it is good for me and how to have a good time. There wasn't many. Even long before I got to Strasbourg I didn't want to be here.
All in all I am not happy in Strasbourg and have no interest in the university here. I still want to study French if possible at Birmingham, but that's more than likely not going to happen, which would then mean I wasted 2 or so years doing work I didn't need to do.
It is very sad that I have not had a good time here. I was hoping for adfrenchture but Strasbourg falls hopelessly short. If anyone reading this is thinking about a year abroad in France - avoid Strasbourg. The city is dull and depressing, and you will be on your own - a problem which was shared by my friend who was here the semester before me. I'm not the only one...
So now I am left wondering if I am makign the right choice to leave. On one hand it will severly impact my degree, on the other I am incredibly lonely and almsot depressed here. It's not exactly and easy choice...
It's a bit unfortunate that I was stuck with Strasbourg. It wasn't my first choice, or my second. I can't help feeling that if I was somewhere else in France then I would be having a better time. Strasbourg university has not helped me in any way even from the start - no information sent to me over the course of a year, no information when I got here, no sort of introduction to France or the university, nothing for Erasmus students including no kind of Erasmus meeting for that semester, troubles with accommodation, and finally the strikes and troubles with not having lessons. Because of all this it has been stressful and not very nice. And because all this has happened it has meant I havn't met very many people, hardly any in fact. As far as French friends (which I hoped to make in class but we havn't had any...) I havn't met any.
As I said, another city in a different part of France would have probably been better. Since I have been in Strasbourg I have wanted to leave, but at the beginning I was trying to think of the ways it is good for me and how to have a good time. There wasn't many. Even long before I got to Strasbourg I didn't want to be here.
All in all I am not happy in Strasbourg and have no interest in the university here. I still want to study French if possible at Birmingham, but that's more than likely not going to happen, which would then mean I wasted 2 or so years doing work I didn't need to do.
It is very sad that I have not had a good time here. I was hoping for adfrenchture but Strasbourg falls hopelessly short. If anyone reading this is thinking about a year abroad in France - avoid Strasbourg. The city is dull and depressing, and you will be on your own - a problem which was shared by my friend who was here the semester before me. I'm not the only one...
So now I am left wondering if I am makign the right choice to leave. On one hand it will severly impact my degree, on the other I am incredibly lonely and almsot depressed here. It's not exactly and easy choice...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)